your future dream is a shopping scheme

Amen, Johnny.

I've been thinking quite a bit about punk music, especially the beginnings of the era, and I'm convinced that we can all learn from this group of unwashed British kids from 30 years ago. Let me start out by identifying my bias, though: I love punk. In fact I love most kinds of music, so that's not a real shock, but to me punk is like horror movies: even when it's bad, and it often is, there is something special about that makes it oh so good. There are some things about early punk I don't like and don't want to encourage, but overall I find it a very positive environment.

Punk has evolved significantly since, some even say it's dead. I don't think so, and the evidence is in community halls and basements all around the world. The nice thing about now is that punk has become more diversified musically. There is still the old school thrashy style, but now there is post-punk, hardcore, metalcore, pop punk, melodic punk, slow punk, shoegazer punk, and a whole host of other subgenres. However, the essential ingredient to punk is that it's more than the music. There were quite a few bands that made it big a few years ago--like Blink 182 and Sum 41--playing a watered down version. Now, some people may apply 'walks like a duck' logic and call it punk. But most in the scene will say it isn't, because those bands aren't part of the community. Essentially, it's a movement, about friends and certain principles. Each subgenre tends to have it's own, and some are extremely positive. I touched on the hardcore community earlier, and it's the best example, there is even a very large portion (a majority in many cities) that are 'straight-edge': abstaining from drugs and alcohol (in many cases other things such as promiscuity or television).

The rub is in how this community came to form. The central tenet was, and to a certain extent still is, that if you want to make music, you pick up an instrument. Many punk bands are extremely incompetent but make up for it in sheer enthusiasm. For instance, Sid Vicious of The Sex Pistols was so horrible at bass that he didn't record on their studio album and his bandmates routinely unplugged him during shows to save the audience's ears. But their concerts are fondly remembered as life-changing. Now, keep in mind that punk is oftentimes wonderfully written and executed, and can be very complex. That being said, the notion of rarefied talent is not there--of the 'star' being on stage, separate from the audience, something you could never achieve.

That's the lesson that I feel everyone should apply to their life: wanting it. I've heard many complain that they don't have the talent for black belt. That they're too old, too out of shape, too uncoordinated. I've heard others in the outside world worry that they aren't smart enough for university, or fast enough to be good at soccer. Some guitar teachers tell students that their fingers aren't long enough to master fretwork, and some drummers fret (ha, ha) that they don't have enough natural rhythm. When those doubts surface, and they always will, you have a choice. You can go home bitter and watch tv, or you can do it anyway. Ignore the people who want to put you down and instead listen to those who encourage you, push you to always do better.

Punk rockers will be forever playing in basements and small venues, and most of us will never be Bruce Lee. But if you're doing this for you, not for validation or the cotton you tie around
your waist, then it doesn't matter as long as you're doing it. So, take my advice and learn from punk, learn from people who do things because they love it and don't back away. Like my good buddy Mohandas said, be the change you want to see--but also listen to Joey Comeau and occasionally be the trouble. If you want a black belt, or to learn a new language, or to ask that person the next cubicle over on a date, go for it. Whether you can is irrelevant because you will if you just do it with everything you have.

Don't people with mohawks seem less scary now?